MAT - Early Childhood Education

DEGREE: MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING - 38 Semester Hours
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING (Lutheran Teacher Diploma) - 58 Semester hours

Degree Requirements

Complete 38 semester hours of course work as indicated, including the Master's Capstone Experience and all general education competency requirements. Candidates seeking Lutheran Teacher Certification must complete an additional 20 semester hours in prescribed Theology course work.

Previous course work and life experience of the candidate will be evaluated to determine if additional hours will be needed. Candidates who complete the program will be awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching degree and will be eligible to apply for an Initial Early Childhood (Type 04) teaching certificate.

GPA Requirements
The candidate must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all coursework taken toward the Master of Arts in Teaching. For courses identified as 4000 level, candidates must receive a “B” or higher.

All candidates graduating from certification programs must show evidence of passing scores on all tests leading to Illinois Certification in order to be considered a program completer.

Refer to the College of Education Handbook for information related to additional program requirements.

General Education Competencies for the M.A.T. Programs

Communications Skills

• 3 semester hours-English Composition II or equivalent
• 3 semester hours-Fundamentals of Speech or equivalent

Mathematics

• 3 semester hours above Intermediate Algebra

Natural Sciences (one lab science course required)

• 3 semester hours-Biological Science
• 3 semester hours-Physical Science

Humanities*

• 9 semester hours in at least two different areas

Social Sciences*

• 9 semester hours in at least two different areas

*One of the courses in these two areas must be classified as a Non-Western or Third-World course. The candidate also must complete American History or American Government from these areas.

Candidates also may demonstrate completion of advanced work in a specialty area common to school curriculum.

Candidates may meet competencies in each of these areas via the successful completion of appropriate course work, through assessment of life experiences, i.e. credit for prior learning (CPL) or CLEP exams.

Areas of Study

(A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in all courses.)

• Prerequisite to Methods Courses (6 hours)
• PSY-4104 Developmental Psych: Infancy and Early Childhood
• EDU-6140 Resources and Strategies of Teaching ECE
• Professional Courses (23 hours)
• Required
• ENG-4100 Language Development of the Young Child
• EDU-4310 Foundations of Early Childhood Education
• EDL-6100 Research in Education
• EDU-6150 Creative Processes and the Young Child
• EDU-6201 Teaching of Reading
• Choose one
• EDU-6160 Parent Involvement in Early Childhood
• SOC-4410 Child, Family, Community
• Choose one
• PSY-4410 Psych and Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner
• PSY-4435 Identification and Education of Young Children with Special Needs
• Choose one
• THY-6400 The Christian in Society
• THY-6500 Moral, Ethical, and Spiritual Development of the Child
• Professional Instructional (Methods) Courses (3 hours)
• EDU-6125 Teaching Science and Math in Early Childhood Classroom
• Professional Semester (6 hours)
• EDU-6920 Candidate Teaching: Early Childhood
• Capstone Experience
• Standards-based portfolio with an oral defense
• Clinical Experience
• 100 hours
• Lutheran Education - all required for Lutheran Teacher Diploma (20 hours)
• THY-2000 The Old Testament
• THY-2200 Faith of the Christian Church
• THY-3210 Christian Life
• THY-3300 History of Christian Biography
• THY-4410 World Religions
• THY-4450 Spiritual Nurture of the Young Child

Required Field Experience

The candidate must complete a minimum of 100 clock hours of field experience prior to candidate teaching. These 100 hours are structured to include guided observation, instructional support, individual tutoring, small group instruction, and large/whole group instruction. The following courses provide a structural framework for clinical experiences:

• EDU-6125 Teaching Science and Math in the Early Childhood Classroom
• EDU-6140 Resources/Strategies of Teaching ECE
• EDU-6150 Creative Processes for the Young Child
• EDU-6201 Teaching of Reading
• PSY-4101 Developmental Psychology: Infancy & Early Childhood
• PSY-4410 Psychology and Methods of Teaching the Exceptional Learner
• PSY-4435 Identification and Education of Young Children with Special Needs
• SOC-4410 Child, Family and Community

Monitoring Candidate Progress

Transition Points have been established to monitor candidate's progress toward achieving expectations and meeting performance standards. Candidates who do not meet expectations may be referred to the Graduate Student Academic Review Committee, the Care and Concern Committee, or the Admission and Appeals Committee. These committees make recommendations for remediation, probation, suspension or expulsion of the candidate as appropriate. Actions may be appealed using the established university appeals process. These Transition Points are described below:

Transition Point 1

An assigned academic advisor meets with the candidate for development of the degree plan.

Transition Point 2

The following criteria must be met prior to application to the College of Education:

• Completion of a minimum of 20 hours of clinical experience
• Successful completion of the Illinois Basic Skills Test
• Criminal Background Check
• 3.00 Concordia GPA in graduate work

Candidates are responsible for completing all prerequisite coursework as listed in their catalog. All requirements must be met prior to application. Applications are submitted to the Office of Field Experience.

Transition Point 3

The candidate must be accepted for admission (and registration) into the Professional semester. Requirements for acceptance include:

• Completion of 80 pre-professional hours.
• Successful completion of the Illinois Subject Matter test.
• A 3.00 Concordia GPA in graduate coursework.
• Verification of Portfolio Transition Point #2.

Application for the Professional Semester must be submitted at least one semester before candidate teaching. An intent to student teach must be filed with the Office of Field Experience at least one year prior to candidate teaching.

Transition Point 4

The Capstone Experience, a portfolio based on INTASC and ILPTS standards, is completed by the candidate during or after the final semester of coursework.

Transition Point 6

Prior to the awarding of the degree, the academic record of the candidate will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and Certification Officer to ensure that all requirements have been met by the candidate. Prior to program completion, candidates must pass the Assessment of Professional Teaching: Early Childhood examination.